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"We live in a wonderful world full of beauty, charm, and adventure.
There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them
with our eyes open."

- Irving Wallace





Lt Gen Raman Dhawan, AVSM, VSM**, ADC (Retd)

President, NAF



It gives me great pleasure to, extend my warm greetings to the fraternity of adventure enthusiasts all over the Country. We at NAF are justifiably proud of our achievements and milestones. Today NAF has -

  • The status of "All India Organisation for National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD)" under Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt of India.

  • Established itself as a recognizable 'Apex Body' at the National level, as the only NGO promoting 'Adventure Sports' in the Country.

  • Extended its coverage across the Country by setting up 35 NAF Chapters.

  • Achieved considerable success in pursuing its objectives of increasing the awareness of and extending the exposure of adventure, among the youth, as a 'growth oriented and positive activity’.

NAF also draws satisfaction from the fact, that it has made its mark on the National 'Youth Related Adventure Firmament' and has served a significant social purpose in terms of-

  • Facilitating exposure to adventure, either free of cost or at highly subsidized costs, for such youth as hail from the underprivileged sections of society and for those who are intellectually/physically disabled.

  • Giving total primacy to reaching out to the 'shy and timid' among the youth, who need such an exposure as a preparation to 'cope with life and career'.

We at NAF take pride in the fact that we are at the forefront of providing an opportunity to the underprivileged and rural sections of the youth for adventure sports and activities. We, in our own humble way, in doing so contribute to character and nation building. Towards this end we place on record our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Govt of India and our other partners for their support. Internally, the Chapters continue to be our main pillars. My compliments and appreciation to each one of them.

Finally, I convey my warm greetings and good wishes to all members of the 'NAF Family' for their happiness and success. Wish you all a great adventure.



EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The General Body elects eleven members of the Executive Council for a tenure of 3 years to correspond to that of the President. The present member are as under :-

President -   Lt Gen Raman Dhawan,AVSM,VSM**,(Retd)  

  Wg Cdr Sanjay Thapar (Retd)  

  Kr KN Singh

  Col Sudhir Nagpal

  Col Ravinder Nath (Retd)  

  Dr Sushma Bissa   

Dr (Mrs) Sushma Bissa, though a Ph.D in music, is a die hard adventure enthusiast who has not only excelled in mountaineering but is also an exellent Parasailing instructor. She has single handedly driven a jeep and conducted Parasailing for KV students from Bikaner and various parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. She is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER).

  Mrs Indu Talwar

  Ms Anuja Sehgal

  Mrs Bimla Negi Deoskar

  Maj KS Dhami, SM (Retd)

Executive Director -  Wg Cdr KK Verma, (Retd)  

Our Core Values



Our Objectives

To expose the youth to nature, hardships and hazards, thereby build their personality, character, confidence and courage through adventure programs.

  • Channelise the energies of young women and men, both students and non-students, working and unemployed, with special emphasis on under-privileged sections of the society and the physically and intellectually challenged.

  • Promote, encourage, support and execute schemes for making younger generation interested in adventure activities entailing facing of challenges and obstacles, both artificial and natural, on rivers, seas and mountains and in forests, deserts, sky and in wilderness.

  • To act as the apex national body and coordinating agency in promotion and conduct of adventure sports/activities through setting up, in different parts of the Country, either new Chapters of NAF or designating/ co-opting existing organisations functioning with similar objects as NAF, as 'Chapters of the NAF'.

  • To plan, support and assist in execution of schemes and programmes aimed at promoting –

    • A spirit of travel and adventure among young people of all regions.

    • National integration.

    • Better understanding, awareness and appreciation of the customs, traditions, flora & fauna obtaining in our Country.

  • Sponsor/ support national and foreign adventure expeditions / events/ activities, as may be appropriate and necessary.

  • Promote, extend scientific and other specialised knowledge related to adventure sports by –

    • Collection and dissemination of such knowledge.

    • Holding lectures, seminars, film and slide shows and exhibitions on adventure activities including on best practices and latest trends.

History

National Adventure Foundation (NAF) was founded by Late Brig Gyan Singh, Padma Shri, former principal of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) Darjeeling and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Uttarkashi, and leader of India's first expedition to Mt Everest, in 1979 at Meerut. It was registered, under the Registration of Societies Act 1860, for promoting adventure sports among the youth of the Country and building their personality and character by infusing in them a sense of discipline and national pride.

Initially NAF organized adventure camps based solely on mountaineering and rock climbing. It subsequently extended its sphere of activities to other terrestrial, aero and aqua adventure activities. During 1992-93, the expertise of the NAF was utilised by the UGC to promote adventure programmes all over the Country based on their Adventure Scheme for College/University students for the 8th and 9th Five Year Plans. Since then NAF has also been conducting programmes for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and other Govt. and private agencies.

NAF is a ‘socially oriented NGO’, which is functioning at the National level as an ‘Apex Body’, duly supported by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for promoting adventure sports/ activities amongst the youth, particularly those hailing from the under privileged sections of society and the intellectually and physically challenged. The Ministry in 2008 granted NAF the status of an ‘All India Organisation’ for National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD).

Organisationally, the NAF has its National HQ located at New Delhi and its 35 Chapters located all over the Country oversee promotion of the objectives of the NAF, within the region/territorial jurisdiction allotted to each. The NAF also extends affiliation to those organisations which share NAF's social orientation, and are, thus, willing to lend support to the NAF in areas/disciplines in which the NAF needs such support to promote its objectives.

In 1991-92, on instructions from Deptt of Youth Affairs & Sports, NAF was moved from Meerut to Delhi and accommodated in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium along with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, to execute adventure and national integration programmes. In 1994, NAF was moved to IG Stadium along with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. NAF was moved back to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Dec 2001. And then in May 2017 NAF moved to its present location in Mayur Vihar, Phase I Extension, New Delhi.




NAF Chairman

A distinguished national level and eminent person is invited to be the Honorary Chairman of the Organization.



Maj Gen BC Khanduri, AVSM (Retd),

(From 2003-2004)

Former Minister Road Transport & Highways, Govt of India.

Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.), AVSM, (born 1 October 1934) is an Indian politician. He was Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2007 to 2009 and 2011 to 2012. He was a Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha representing the Garhwal parliamentary constituency of Uttarakhand and is a senior member of the Bhartiya Janta Party. Earlier, he was a cabinet minister, Ministry of Surface Transport of the government headed by the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Khanduri is B.Sc., B.E. and M.I.E. (India). He is also a post-graduate in defence management. He studied at College of Military Engineering, Pune, Allahabad University, Institute of Engineers, New Delhi, and Institute of Defence Management, Secunderabad.

Brig KP Singh Deo, AVSM (Retd),

(Since 2005 )

Former Minister of State for Defence, Personnel & Information & Broadcasting, Govt of India.

Founder

BRIG GYAN SINGH

(12 April 1915-97)

Brig Gyan Singh, was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery as an Officer in Jul 1940.he developed an aptitude for mountaineering during his tenure in J & K in 1948 as the Commanding Officer of a Regiment and climbed numerous Himalayan Peaks while carrying out reconnaissance and other professional tasks during this tenure.

In 1958, Brig Gyan Singh was posted as Principal, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, a premier Mountaineering Institute, which further whetted his appetite for mountaineering. In July - Aug 1959, he visited Europe, to attend the International Mountaineers Meet. During his visit to Europe he also visited a number of Mountaineering Institutes and gained valuable knowledge about Mountaineering.

In 1959, India was planning to launch its first 'Indian Everest Expedition'. Giving recognition to the fact that Brig Gyan Singh had established himself as an accomplished and able mountaineer, in Sep 1959, he was appointed as the Leader of the 'Expedition to Everest'.

Brig Gyan Singh led the 'Expedition' from Mar to May 1960. Though, the Expedition had to be abandoned just 700 ft short of the summit due to prevailing and anticipated 'adverse weather conditions', it had put India on the Mountaineering Map of the World.

In Nov 79, Brig Gyan Singh founded the National Adventure Foundation, with the aim to promote adventure among the youth, throughout the country.

In recognition of his services to the Nation in the field of Mountaineering, Brig Gyan Singh was awarded the Padma Shri and National Adventure Award for Life Time Achievement.


Roll Of Honour

AWARDEES


Padma Shri


Name Year
Late Brig Gyan Singh 1961
Ms Prem Lata Aggarwal 2013

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (Life Time Achievement)


Name Year
Shri Magan Bissa 2020

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award


Name Year
Mrs Bachendari Pal 1994
Ms Santosh Yadav 1994
Ms Anita G Devi 1994
Ms Suman Kutiyal 1994
Ms Bimla Negi 1994
Ms Sarla Negi 1994
Ms Chandra Prabha Aitwal 1994
Col MP Yadav 1995
Sqn Ldr Sanjay Thapar 1995
Late Brig Gyan Singh 1996
Ms Kokila Sudha 1997
Late Shri Amulya Sen 1998
Col HS Chauhan 1999
Maj Kulwant Singh Dhami 2001
Sqn Ldr RC Tripathi 2001
Ms Barkha Kishore Kedia 2001
Mr Brain Dermot Kharpran Daly 2002
Wg Cdr Jayashankar 2004
Wg Cdr MIK Reddy 2006
Capt MS Kohli 2007
Ms Ritu Kishore Kedia 2015
Ms Premlata Aggarwal 2016
Capt Udit Thapar 2017

EMINENT STALWARTS OF NAF

  Lt Gen RK Gaur, PVSM (Retd)

  Lt Gen GL Bakshi, PVSM (Retd) was President NAF from 2001-2015

  Col N Kumar, PVSM, KC, AVSM (Retd)  

Col. N Kumar, PVSM, KC, AVSM, FRGS (Retd) is an internationally known highly decorated mountaineer. He has successfully led mountaineering expeditions to the highest peaks of Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Garhwal, Kashmir and Eastern Karakoram. Out of 13 highest peaks above 24000 ft climbed by Indian, nine have been climbed under his leadership. He was also the first Indian to reach a height of 28300 ft during the 1960 Indian Everest Expedition under Late Brig Gyan Singh. Col N Kumar, is not only a mountaineer but also keen skier and white water rafter. He led All India Ski Trishul Expedition and has skied down from 23360 ft to Base Camp at 15500 ft in an hour and a half whereas the ascent took 10 days. He has fondly been named "Bull" Narinder. He is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER).

  Ms Bachendari Pal (Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee)

  Mrs. Bimla Negi Deoskar (Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee)  

Smt. Bimla Negi Deoskar is Presidant of NAF Chapter Nagpur. She is a keen mountaineer, having climbed more than 13 major peaks in the Himalaya. She is the recipient of the First National Adventure Award in 1994. She successfully led the IMF Golden Jubilee All Women Expedition to Mt Satopanth in 2008. She is an active life member of NAF. She is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER)

  Gp Capt Jayashankar (Retd) (Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee)

  Gp Capt MIK Reddy (Retd) (Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee)

WELL KNOWN PERSONALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH NAF

  Brig D K Khullar(Retd)  

Brig D K KhullarAVSM, FRGS (Retd), is a mountaineer of national and international repute. He has been on 12 expeditions in the Himalayas, mostly as leader. In 1984 he led the fourth Indian Everest Expedition which has the distinction of putting the first Indian women, Ms Bachendri Pal, atop Everest, besides having the distinctions of an oxygen less climb by Sherpa Sirdar Ang Dorjee and solo ascent by Phu Dorjee. He is a recipient of 'Arjuna Award' and 'Padma Shree'. He is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER).

  Capt MS Kohli, In, AVSM (Retd)  

Capt MS Kohli, In, AVSM (Retd) is a world renowned mountaineer, who has been on 14 major Himalayan expeditions and encountered 17 miraculous survivals. He led the historic Indian Everest Expedition in 1965 which set up a world record then by putting nine climbers on the summit. In 1977, Capt Kohli, also organized "From Ocean to Sky" Ganges White Water Rafting Expedition, in collaboration with Sir Edmund Hillary. He has been the Vice President and President of IMF for 14 years. A prolific writer, who has 20 books including an autobiography. An 'ARJUNA' Awardee, has also been awarded the "TENZING NORGAY NATIONAL ADVENTURE AWARD-2007", for 'Life Time Achievement'. The author is India's "Himalayan Legend", who was leader of India's first successful Everest Expedition in 1965. He is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER).

  Mr R K Sharma  

Mr R K Sharma a post graduate in Political Science and Sociology, is a dedicated adventurist. Late Brig Gyan Singh personally appointed him as Secretary of Rajasthan Chapter, NAF in 1993. Having done basic mountaineering course from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, he has trekked to Everest Base Camp twice. He is a very good Parasailing Controller. He is also founder Secretary of IMF West Zone Committee and Rajasthan Adventure Foundation. He is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER).

  Mr Charles Clarance   

Mr Charles Clarance is a renowned educationist in Agra with an experience of 27 years in the field. He is presently the Principal of Dr MPS World School. An enthusiastic personality in sports and co-curricular activities. He is a regular contributor to the National Adventure Foundation Magazine (NAFER).